When Ann Wan returned home, it was already later than usual.
“Wow, you mom got three awards from the school – best traditional morals, best physique, and best talent! She’s really impressive.”
Downstairs, Ann ran into Professor Ling, their neighbor, who was under forty and had a well-maintained body… relatively speaking, compared to most people of the same age, not including Liu Yueliang.
Liu Yueliang was younger than Professor Ling and happened to be Ann’s mother.
“That’s because this competition wasn’t in your area of expertise, Mom. It’s all about tradition… If it were a dance competition without the traditional restriction, your belly dance would surely captivate all the judges.” Ann smiled and said, not exaggerating much, as both she and her mom had learned belly dance from Professor Ling.
In their neighborhood, where most residents were people who had worked together for over ten or twenty years, the relationships between neighbors were particularly close-knit, unlike those in newer residential areas.
Professor Ling was very pleased, patted Ann on the shoulder, and said, “Exams are coming up, don’t forget to relax. Take a break and come over to my place to play, and we’ll listen to music together.”
“Okay!” Ann replied with a tender voice, holding onto Professor Ling’s arm as they went upstairs together.
“Wow, your legs are so long!” Professor Ling admired, “If I had a daughter like you, I’d be so happy. Chi Chi’s legs are only half as long as yours.”
“There’s no need to exaggerate, Chi Chi would get upset if she heard that,” Ann burst out laughing.
Chi Chi was Professor Ling’s daughter, living next door, and the two girls had a close relationship despite not being in the same school.
“Don’t worry about it,” Professor Ling quickly said.
When Ann opened the door, Professor Ling saw Liu Yueliang sitting on the couch, still wearing the cheongsam from the competition earlier. At thirty-six, she had a gentle and youthful aura, making people envy her. Her eyebrows and lips seemed to evoke the poem “The moon isabove the willow, the appointment is after sunset.”
“Still admiring yourself?” Liu Yueliang was looking at her phone, with a smile on her face that was both shy and sweet. Professor Ling greeted her.
Liu Yueliang turned around, stood up, and scolded, “What’s going on? Go cook dinner for Chi Chi, she just ate an ice cream and is asking for food.”
“Fat chance…” Professor Ling cursed, turned around, and left for her own home.
Ann closed the door, changed her shoes, and took off her sportswear and outer jacket. Wearing only her shorts and small top, she was ready to head to the bathroom. Since there were only the two of them at home, they didn’t need to worry too much about what they wore.
Her straight and slender legs were like a pencil, and the soft fabric of her shorts clingy to her skin, making it seem like she had a volleyball hidden in her pants.
Liu Yueliang frowned, her hands on her hips, looking at Ann. “Didn’t I tell you to come home earlier today?”
“I practiced volleyball for a bit longer and forgot about the time.” Ann’s skills in lying had developed naturally, without her face turning red or her heart racing. Of course, she didn’t tell the truth – that she was chatting with Liu Chang’an on the flyover and lost track of time.
“Sit down, I have something to say to you.” Liu Yueliang knocked on the coffee table.
Ann was mentally prepared, not panicked, and sat down. What she was concerned about was her mom’s expression when she first came home – a shy and sweet smile that reminded her of a woman in love.
Only a woman in love would have that kind of expression when looking at her phone, definitely because she received a message that made her blush.
Women, no matter how old, always showed similar signs when they were in love.
But it was hard to say, maybe she was just overthinking it. Ann sat down, seeing her mom pick up her phone again, seemingly waiting for a message, then put it down with a disappointed look.
“What do you want to say to me?” Liu Yueliang looked at Ann’s face, as if looking at herself eighteen years ago. The strong genetic inheritance made their facial features extremely similar, except Ann had a youthful aura, while Liu Yueliang’s body exuded more mature femininity.
“Nothing,” Ann replied with a smile, “Mom, your cheongsam looks great, shows off your figure well. You must have caught all the guys’ eyes at school today… and the girls’ too.”
Liu Yueliang did have a great figure, a confident woman who dared to wear a cheongsam. This type of clothing would accentuate any imperfections, but Liu Yueliang’s skin was smooth and white, like a full cup of milk, making people want to savor the aroma.
“I want to talk to you about you and Liu Chang’an in your class.” Liu Yueliang looked at Ann with a hint of disappointment, “With the exams coming up, I don’t need to remind you what to do.”
Ann became serious as well, with her hands on her hips, just like her mom. “Liu Chang’an and I are just friends. He cleared up the misunderstanding the other day.”
“But I think he really likes you, Mom. As someone who’s been there before, I can tell when someone is interested. The tone, the expressions, I can see it all.”
Ann shook her head, hugging her mom’s neck. “Mom, you’re overthinking it. As an elder, don’t pretend to be something you’re not.”
Liu Yueliang glared at Ann, then rolled her eyes, patting her chest in annoyance. Actually, the cheongsam was a bit tight, and if she breathed too quickly, the buttons would pop open.
“I saw you playing with your phone earlier, chatting with some uncle happily. If you really find someone you like, you have to let me screen them first.” Ann teased her mom.
“What’s that? Just a net friend,” Liu Yueliang slapped Ann’s back, “Go, take a shower.”
Ann laughed and left. As a single child, she was her mom’s little cotton-padded jacket, and many things could be easily glossed over.
As she entered the bathroom, Ann’s smile faded away… Net friend? Online romance?
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